The Beginnings of Our Parish & Community

Prior to 1918, many English-speaking Catholic families had taken up residence in the city of St. Boniface, the majority of them living in the southern part of the city, around the post office of the Norwood Grove. To attend to their religious duties, they had the choice of attending either the French-speaking Cathedral in St. Boniface or across the bridges over the Red and Assiniboine rivers to St. Mary's Cathedral, in downtown Winnipeg. In 1918, three English-speaking Catholics, Daniel Keleher, Robert Starr and Michael Sweeney undertook a census of the district and found seventy to eighty Catholic English-speaking families. A general meeting was called and as a result, Archbishop Beliveau was approached with the object of forming an English-speaking parish.

Following a meeting of a delegation with Archbishop Beliveau, they looked towards the establishment of an English-speaking parish in the city of St. Boniface. Monsignor Jubinville who at that time was placed in charge of a newly formed congregation, made arrangements for Mass with sermons in English, each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel in the Cathedral of St. Boniface.

In July of 1921, property was bought on the corner of Dubuc and Traverse Streets as a site for the new Church. In 1922 the Church was completed and inaugurated with the name ‘Holy Cross’.

Historical Highlights

1922
New church of Holy Cross built on corner of Dubuc and Traverse Streets. First Mass on Christmas Day.

1928
Holy Cross School erected on Dubuc Street. Arrival of Sisters of the Holy Names, as teachers.

1942
Parish convent opened.

1952
A house at the corner of Dubuc and Braemar streets purchased by the Parish as a Convent for the Sisters.

1953
St. John Fisher becomes a Chaplaincy of Holy Cross Parish, using the Chapel facilities of Maison Chapelle.

1954
First Mass celebrated at St. Thomas More Chapel on September 11th.  Official opening and blessing of the Chapel on December 4th.

1956
The Convent next to the church is demolished to make way for the new Catholic Information Centre.  This centre officially opens and is blessed on June 23.

1961
The Church undergoes renovations to make it suitable for the new liturgy.

1963
Holy Cross Gymnasium officially opens and is blessed on June 22.

1965
On May 23, the Liturgical Ceremony of the Blessing of the Cornerstone of the new St. Boniface Diocesan High School is celebrated.

1971
On December 31, a "50th Jubilee Banquet and Ball" is held in the Holy Cross Gym to inaugurate Holy Cross Parish's ‘joybilee’ year.

1985
Convent becomes part of Holy Cross School.

1988
Christmas Hamper Program is established. St. John Fisher Chaplaincy closes.

1989
Parish establishes Food Depot/Soup Kitchen every Wednesday morning.

2001
Good Shepherd Program begins its first training session. The second level of the Parish Centre is converted into a Catechism Area for children’s programs.

2003
The Korean Catholics of Manitoba make Holy Cross Parish their home.  First official Korean Mass held October 26. 

2008
The Korean Catholics of Manitoba celebrate Sunday Mass at St. Thomas More Parish.  Perpetual Adoration Chapel opens and is inaugurated on the first Sunday of Advent.

2010-11
The Church does major fundraising and recieves a private financial grant to improve the body of the Church. Some of this work includes a ramp connecting the Annex to the main body of the Church, installing energy-efficient air-conditioning units, installing new windows & flooring and donating old pews to make way for more comfortable chairs in the Annex area and placing newer, gently-used pews in the main body of the Church.

2011
Upgrades to the Church continue. A new Baptismal Font is completed, alongside new flooring in the Church. Our stained-glass window (created by Leo Mol) is featured in the Font's design. Youth Ministry undergoes a renewal in the Parish, and a youth room is established.